Say Hello to Jillian Shafer of Hello Fifth!

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Find out how this creative teacher uses Ruggish in her classroom to create an inviting space for students to curl up with a good book!

Remember the cool teacher — the one everyone hoped they’d get, who made learning fun and whose classroom was always alive with activity? That’s Jillian Shafer.

Step inside Jill’s colorful classroom — or visit her website, Hello Fifth — and you’ll enter an organized and beautifully engaging space that’s designed to foster a love of learning in her young pupils.

“I LOVE the space I share with my students, and I’m constantly searching for ways to make it work even better for us,” Jill says. “With thirty students, I love to carve out spaces that promote flexible seating, student choice, and comfortable work areas.”

Like many educators, Jill has made significant personal investments in her classroom, from supplies to decorations to furniture — so when she shops for school, she wants her purchases to last.

“Anything that I purchase and bring into our space has to stand the test of time (or, in my case, ten- and eleven-year-olds!” she says.

One look at Jill’s gorgeous signage and decorations (some of which she sells as printables in her online store) and it’s clear she’s got an eye for kid-friendly design. She keeps her rainbow-colored classroom decor from becoming overwhelming by setting it against a more muted palette.

“As much as I love bright pops of color, I want to pair it with a neutral background,” Jill says. “I love whites and grays, which, even in a classroom of fifth graders, seem fresh and clean! When I look for products to add to our room, I’m looking for things that encourage that type of cleanliness, as well as durability.”

One of the best-loved features in Jill’s classroom is her considerable library, which she has been building up throughout her years as a teacher. The Ruggish™ Cali Play Rug has a place of honor in that area of her classroom… although it’s also been known to get around!

“I had originally placed it right back in our classroom library, but students also love to move it around, such as against the side wall,” she says. “They’ll drag some pillows over and truly get lost in their books! It is a gentle invitation that they just love.”

Also a mom of three, Jill says her Ruggish play rug hits the trifecta of fun, functional, and beautiful.

“The rug is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before; even my colleagues come in to check it out,” she says. “I think you just need to add a pillow and a good book for a comfortable reading spot!”

See more of Jill’s gorgeous classroom, get tips for motivating students, and find freebies and resources at HelloFifth.com, or follow her on Instagram @Hello_Fifth.